Propulsion mechanism for dirigibles, airships, and similar devices



I Fe s. 1925.

R. D. WORK PROPULSION MECHANISM FOR DIRIGIBLES, AIRSHIPS, AND SIMILAR DEVICES ATTORNEYS.

Filed Aug. 29, 1922 Patented Feb. 3, 1925.

PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT D. WORK, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

PROPULSION MECHANISM FOR- DIRIGIBLES, AIRSHIPS, AND SIMILAR DEVICES.

Application filed August 29, 1922. Serial No. 584,942.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT D. VVORK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Propulsion Mechanism for Dirigibles, Airships, and Similar Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to propulsion mechanism for dirigibles, air ships and similar devices wherein the propulsion can be obtained by means of one or more air driven vanes operatively connected with the propeller, or the propeller may be actuated by the operator as may be desired.

Another object in view is todevise novel means for varying the-effective wing area of the vanes.

"With the above and other objects in view which will hereinafter. more fully appear, my invention comprehends a novel construction and arrangement of propulsion mechansim for dirigibles, air ships and similar devices.

It further comprehends a novel construction and arrangement of vanes, each vane being made up of a plurality of smaller vanes which can be adjusted as may be desired by the operator, the main vanes being operatively connected with the propeller to drive it and means being also providex l to disconnect the operative connection be tween the main vanes and the propeller and to connect .the propeller with a pedal actuated. shaft actuated by the operator.

Other novel features of construction and advantage will hereinafter more fully appear in the detailed description and the appended claims.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawings an embodlment thereof which is at present preferred by me, since this embodiment will give in practice satisfactory andreliable results. It is, however, to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organlzation of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Figure 1 represents a top plan view of a dirigible or air ship in conjunction with which propulsion mechanism, embodying my invention, is employed.

Figure 2 represents a side elevation partly in section of the construction seen in Figure 1.

Figure 3 represents a fragmentary view showing more particularly the vane construction.

Figure 4: represents a. sectional view showing a portion of the vane controlling mechanism and certain of its adjuncts.

Figure 5 and 6 represent detail views showing a vane shutter and certain of its adjuncts in different positions.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings.

1 designates the skeleton framework within which is contained, in the usual manner, a plurality of inflatable gas bags. The frame 1 has connected to it a car 2 in which is mounted a propeller shaft 3 having connected to it apropeller 4:. The gas bags are designated 5. The propeller shaft 3 has mounted thereon a gear 6 which is adapted to mesh with a gear 7 carried by a shaft 8 which is vertically disposed and extends through the'framework 1. The shaft 8 is mounted in a sleeve 9. A clutch 10 is provided by means of which the gear 7 may be moved into or out of mesh with the gear 6. The shaft 8 at its upper end, see more particularly Figure 4, has fixed to it a hub 11, to which is connected the arms 12, which latter carry the vanes 13. These vanes 13, as illustrated, are shown as consisting of a rectangular framework in which is pivoted Y a series of shutters 14:, the shutters being pivoted near their upper end, as at 15, see Figure 3. p I

The side barsof each vane are provided with the slots 16 through which extend rods 17, said rods being connected to the actuating bars 18. These actuating bars 18 have connected to them the cables 19 which pass over the pulley 20, and these cables 19, see Figure 1, are connected to a sleeve 21 rotatable on the sleeve 9. A collar 22 is keyed to the sleeve 9 and the sleeve 21 is freely rotatable with respect to the collar 22 but moves upwardly and downwardly with it. A spring 23 is interposed between the collar 22 and the fixed washer 21, so that the tendency of this spring is to move the collar 22 upwardly and thereby permit the shutters 1% to close to a-predeterm-ined degree,this movement beingassisted byuthe spring 25. connected to the bars 18. The collar 22 is connected by means of a cable 26 with a manually controlled drum 27. The car 2 is provided with a seat 28 for the operator.

and in proximity to this seat is a wheel 29 operatively connected with the rudder 30 to actuate it. The propellor shaft 8 is connected by means of a manually controlled clutch. 31 with a shaft 3:2 which :latter carries the gear 33 mesh ng with a gear 3-l; through which is-ooerativelv oonnectedthe foot Each-vane shutter l t-has its pedals 35. opening movement limited by astop 36.

In some cases, it is desirable to employ stabilizers 37 inithe: form of wings having any desired or conventional shapemovablyconnected with the. skeleton framework 1' and controlled andoperated byimeans of rods 38 and cont-rolling.mechanisnrfii) of- .any desired construction.

seen that theposition of these stabilizers It will thus be can be adjusted. I may alsoemploy, if desired, a level adjusting vane tOflconnected with a lever to whichis connected acable 41 which lever in turn is connected to a. bell crank being controlledby means' of a rod secured to a levertt in a. position accessible to the operator. By the operation of I this lever 44, thevanev lO may be: turned upwardly or. downwardly in order tocause the forward end of the air ship todescend or ascend as may be desired.

' The operation of my novel propulsion mechanismwill now be readily apparent and is as follows:

If the operator. desires to have the dirigible airship or similardeviceautomatically propelled due to the action-of the :wind on the vanes 13,'the clutch 31 is. movedinto its declutched position-and the clutch f 10 is moved into its clutchedposition so that the gears 6- and 7 are inmesh. The operator, actuatingthe drunr or hand wheel 27 in a direction to draw down the collar 22, will thereby exert a pull on the cables l9.and move the actuating :bars 18 downwardly against the action of the-springi25.

The rods 17, if desired, maybe rubber coated; or coated withany desiredmaterialwhich acts as a shock absorbing element.

will thus be seen that the closing'movement of the shutters'lt can be limited as-desired so as to vary the resistance offered'by such shutters to the wind.

The wind acting against the vanes causes the shaft 8- to revolve and therebythepropel-ler 4 to which it is operatively connected.

the gear T out of engagement with the gear 6, and the clutch 31 is moved into clutched position, so that when the gear 34: is revolved, due. to theroperator actuating the foot'pedals 35, the propeller shaft 3 and its propeller 4: will be driven, as is apparent.

. When a main vane 13 revolves and'during its revolution is brought into the face of the wind,- the vanes lat can open, the opening movement of the vane shutters it being limited-bythe stops 36, so that at such time the wind can blow through the openings in the main vane.

In so.-.far: as I am aware, I am the first in the art .toaen'iploy wind driven vanes positioned aboveithe .gasballoon which are -operatively; connected with 1 the propeller to drive it,-and.to. provide means whereby the effectivewing area :of the wane: .can the. ad justed, and wherein provisiorris made to .have the vanesrshutters OPBDJEWhGll a vane :comesintoztheaface of the'wind.

For-the purpose:ofnillustr-ation, I. have shown sixavanes but it will be apparent that one or. more may be employed, as maybe desired.

It wills-now be apparent that I have deviced anew. and .useful dirigible,,air ship and similar. device which- 1 embodies :the features of advantage enumerated asdesirable intthestatement of the invention and the 2 above: description, and while I have-,2 in the present instance;.showneand described an 1embodimentlthereof which will give in prac- ;.tice satisfactory and reliable results,- it is to be understood that this embodiment, is susceptible of modification in various particu- 1; larswithout departing. from the spirit or scopeof the-invention orsacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thusrdescribed my invention, what Iclaimasnewanddesire to securebyLet- :tersiPatent, is:

1. In appa'ratus; of the character stated, a 4 gas balloon, a; car suspended therefrom, a -propeller at theforward endof said car, a seat at; the rear. of the car,- facing said propeller, a shaft :extended fronr the propeller toward said seat, a small gear wheel upon said shaft, a larger-gear wheel in ,mesh with said propeller gear wheel; foot pedalsran rieclzby the-.larger of said gear wheels, a rudder arranged; a-tvthe rear 'ofdthe car, a

ste'eringwheel arranged. adjacent said seat, means connecting said steeringwheel and rudder, and awinddriven vane arranged above the balloon and operatively connected with said propeller shaft.

2. In apparatus of the character stated, a .gas'balloon, a car suspended therefrom, a propeller at the forward end of said-oar, a seat at therear;of the' car facin said pro- 7 peller, a shaft-extended from the propeller toward said seat, a small gear wheelu-ipon said shaft, alarger-gear wheel 1n.;mesh with said propeller gear wheel, foot pedals carried by the larger of said gear Wheels, a rudder arranged at the rear of the car, a steering Wheel arranged adjacent said seat, means connecting said steering Wheel and rudder, a Wind driven vane arranged above the balloon and operatively connected with said propeller shaft, and means to vary the effective wlng area of said vane.

ROBERT D. WORK.

WVitnesses' H. S. FAIRBANKS, C. D. MoVAY. 

